InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ It's A Wonderful Feudal Life ❯ Consequences Part Three--The Youkai Empire ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimer: Inuyasha and related characters are creation and copyright of R. Takahashi. The movie It's a Wonderful Life is a Christmas movie directed by Frank Capra, starring James Stewart and Donna Reed, originally released in 1946. Since my name is not Frank Capra and I was not alive in 1946, you tell me if I own it.

Allow me to warn you that this chapter contains non-graphic rape and suicide. It's the reason the fic is rated PG-13. If you are offended by such content, feel free to go read other fanfiction.

Chapter Four

Inuyasha blinked as the light cleared. He was standing Kami-knows-where in what was undoubtedly far in the future. He was surrounded on all sides by skyscrapers, metal behemoths that seemed to reach to the heavens themselves.

"Where are we? More importantly, when are we?" Inuyasha demanded. Chibi-Kaitlyn giggled.

"I'd think you'd recognize this place, Inu-sama. Sure, Naraku tore down the Goshinboku Tree a long time ago…" Inuyasha gaped.

"This the clearing of the Goshinboku tree?" he repeated incredulously.

"Yup!" Chibi-Kaitlyn replied, clapping her hands over her head. "Naraku wanted to make sure he maintained his might. The Youkai ended up pushing back the boundaries of science farther than humans ever did…and they did it faster, too. Pretty soon, Earth was covered by their cities, the most advanced in any universe at this time period."

"Scary thought," Inuyasha admitted.

"Yup," Chibi-Kaitlyn agreed. "The worst part is that everyone has to see Naraku's ugly face all the time." She led Inuyasha into the city, which was plastered with posters and billboards, all depicting Naraku. There was even music blaring out through the city.

You better not cry, you'd better not be

Unorthodox

I'm telling you why,

Our great leader is watching you.

Were Inuyasha familiar with modern literature, he would likely have remarked on how appropriate the jingle would be to 1984. As it was, he simply snarled in irritation.

"So the world is completely inhabited by demons?" he asked. Chibi-Kaitlyn shook her head.

"Of course not! The Youkai keep a significant number of humans as slaves. Quite frankly, it's a status symbol." She did some quick mental arithmetic. "Naraku himself has about 500."

"Kagome?" Inuyasha snarled.

"Not his." The angel replied. "At least not anymore. Shortly after her grandfather was executed for getting too old, she was gifted to Musou. The same day, Souta escaped and joined the New Resistance."

"What happened?" Inuyasha demanded. Chibi-Kaitlyn sighed.

"It was gruesome. Souta tried to retrieve some of the Youkai's technical knowledge. The mission was compromised, and his group was captured by a patrol. They were publicly hung, drawn, and quartered-except Souta. Musou ripped his face off, and wore it while he raped Kagome."

Inuyasha snarled in fury, smashing his fist against the wall of the nearest skyscraper. Of course, since he didn't exist, his fist passed straight through it.

"There's no use cursing Musou anymore," Chibi-Kaitlyn scolded. "He's dead. Two years after the incident, Musou was poisoned. Everything he had was given to his murderer, an upstart Youkai with high ambitions. Naraku knew, of course, but he didn't care. It's real cutthroat politics in the world of the Youkai." She chuckled at her own joke, which made Inuyasha want to strangle her. Before he could move, another flash of light engulfed him.

He was standing in a spartanly decorated room, which looked suspiciously like a dungeon. The major features were a ragged straw mattress in the corner, and a raven haired young woman chained to the wall. Her blood-encrusted hair obscured her face, and her nude body was covered in bruises and scars.. Still, there was no mistaking her.

"Kagome!" he cried. The hanyou charged pointlessly, passing straight through the girl. Suddenly, a flicker of life appeared in her eyes. She raised her head quizzically, but it was clearly a strenuous effort.

"What the…is someone there?" It was a raspy, hoarse voice, and Inuyasha felt a new surge of hatred for the bastard who had abused her.

"Kagome! Kagome, it's me, Inuyasha!" But she couldn't hear him. After a moment, her head dropped again. It snapped up again, as someone entered.

He was a bit shorter than Inuyasha, and fairly stocky. He carried a cane in one hand. Inuyasha couldn't quite make out the face, but he knew there was something familiar about him

"Hello, bitch," the figure said. Kagome growled weakly. The Youkai snarled. "Apparently, you need another lesson, slut." He flew forward, jamming his cane into her ribs. She screamed as electrical charges assaulted her body. Just before her brain shutdown, he pulled the cane away, and unlocked her shackles. She crumpled to the ground, but her master pushed her up to her knees. He started to unbutton his trousers…

Inuyasha couldn't watch. But though he looked away, he couldn't drown out the screams, nor the Youkai's groans and derogatory shouts.

"Make it stop!" he yelled at Chibi-Kaitlyn, but there was no response. He realized that the angel had vanished, as though she couldn't stand the sight any more then he could.

When the screams stopped, he allowed himself to look again. Kagome was lying on the floor, blood pouring from fresh wounds. The man stood above her, redressing. It was at that second that Kagome noticed that he had dropped his cane.

Instantly, she had swept her captor's feet out from under him. She made a desperate grab for the cane. The man tried to grab her, but it was too late. She thrust the cane into his head. His scream was short-lived, as his brain overloaded seconds later.

For the first time, Inuyasha got a clear look at the man's face. His jaw dropped.

It was Shippou.

Of course. He would have been a victim of Naraku's control as well. Still, this was about as low as one could sink!

Kagome stood shakily, maintaining a tight grip on the cane. She heard footsteps in the distance.

"Probably a patrol coming for her," Chibi-Kaitlyn said, reappearing. Kagome glanced at Shippou's corpse, then over at Inuyasha's current location.

"I…Inuyasha?" she whispered.

The footsteps were getting louder.

Inuyasha wanted to say something, but his throat was dried u, and no sound came out.

The footsteps were very close now.

"This isn't right," she murmured. Then, just as the door broke down, she plunged the cane into her heart.

"NO!" Inuyasha screamed, but it was too late. She crumpled to the ground…and everything fell away. He was standing in Limbo again.

Chibi-Kaitlyn crossed her arms. "Still think they'd be better off without you?" the petite angel inquired. Snarling, Inuyasha gripped her by the collar and lifted her into the air.

"What the hell do you think?" he growled. "I've just been through hell three times over! No more visions! No more games! I get it! Send me back! I want to live!"

Chibi-Kaitlyn slipped from his grasp, and began to float away.

"Wait!" he yelled. "You can't leave me here! Send me back! I wish I had been born! It's a wonderful life! I WANT TO LIVE!" He crumpled to his knees, sobbing.

Then Limbo exploded, and he blacked out.